Feb. 16, 2012 9:26 AM

Grady E. Thornton, 22, was sentenced to life in prison for the June 2008 killing of his 3-month-old son. / Handout

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A 22-year-old Shreveport man convicted of second-degree murder last week in the death of his infant son was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole or probation.

In sentencing Grady E. Thornton for the June 2008 killing of his 3-month-old son, Terrell, Caddo District Court Judge Scott Crichton acknowledged the impact of the tragedy on everyone involved.

"This is a tragic case," said Crichton, while Thornton, who wore a black- and white-striped jail jumpsuit and showed no emotion, stood impassively before him.

"It is tragic for this completely helpless and innocent 3-month-old child ... it is a devastating loss for the mother ... and it is tragic and devastating for Mr. Thornton."

Moments earlier Crichton denied a defense motion by public defender David McClatchey to modify the jury's findings and convict Thornton of a lesser crime.

Crichton said the jury listened carefully to the evidence and there was "no legal basis to modify the jury's verdict."

Thornton was 18 when he and Terrell's mother, Ursula Brantley, brought the non-responsive infant to a local hosptial June 24, 2008, according to court records. Terrell, who was brain-dead, died the next day.

Thornton, who had been home alone with Terrell while Brantley was out with friends, told Shreveport police detectives the infant had fallen to the floor while Thornton was out of the room preparing a bottle.

He later noticed that Terrell had spit up and was unresponsive, according to a police report.

But Thornton later admitted he struck Terrell in the head because the infant was crying. Thornton also squeezed Terrell's head hard like a "basketball" until he stopped crying, the police report stated.

An autopsy found Terrell had a skull fracture and other injuries consistent with shaken impact syndrome.

The baby also had liver lacerations and broken ribs, according to the autopsy report. McClatchey said he plans to appeal the conviction "based on the court's rulings throughout the case."

Charging Thornton with a lesser crime, such as negligent homicide, should have been considered, given his client's age and other circumstances, he said.

"A lesser verdict would have served the ends of justice better," McClatchey said.